Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Making Progress in Virginia -- More Letters Needed

We are making progress in Virginia in the quest to restore access to 19th century county and city order books. There is another need for researchers to write letters, as explained in the following letter forwarded by Barbara Vines Little.

Dear
Genealogical/Historical Researcher,

Thank
you for your help in contacting members of the Virginia
General Assembly to urge passage of a bill to restore access
to 19th century county and city order books.

I
contacted you earlier this week, asking that you write
members of the House Militia, Police and Public Safety
Committee to support HB 100, which will cure that problem.

Thanks
to your support, I am pleased to report that HB 100 was
unanimously reported out of the House subcommittee yesterday
afternoon, and out of the full House Committee this
morning. Committee members reported receiving numerous
messages supporting the bill. The bill has been amended to
make it clear that actual concealed carry permits and
applications will remain closed, but order books will be
open after 5 years. HB 100 should be routinely approved by
the full House in the next week or so, and sent to the
Senate for action.

I
now need your help with a parallel Senate bill, SB 600,
offered by Senator John Cosgrove. While not required,
parallel House and Senate bills are often used by proponents
in case one bill runs into problems.

SB
600 (also opening order books to the public after five
years) will come before the Senate Courts of Justice
Committee, probably next Wednesday afternoon.

Please
email the members of the Senate Courts of Justice Committee
(whose email addresses are below), with the following
suggested message (revise as you deem appropriate). I will
keep you advised on the progress of both bills.

Thank
you for your support of access to Virginia’s records!

Peter
E. Broadbent, Jr.

Former
President, Virginia Genealogical Society

*
* *

Here is the list of email address for the Virginia state senators, and a sample letter:

I
urge you to support SB 600 of Senator John Cosgrove, now
before the Senate Courts of Justice Committee. This bill
will cure an unintended consequence of prior legislation
which has denied researchers access to Virginia historical
public records going back to the 1700’s.

The
Library of Virginia has had to withdraw 222 reels of
microfilm from research access. Local clerks have been
compelled to deny researchers access to county order books
and indices covering the 1800’s.

Please
cure this barrier to genealogical and historical research in
Virginia by passing SB 600.

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About Me

I am a professional genealogist who focuses on genealogy education as a coordinator at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research at Samford University, and at the Salt Lake Institute of
Genealogy. I served as the administrator of the ProGen
Study Program for professional genealogists for six year, and am now on the board of directors. I love learning and there is always more to study in the field of genealogy and family history.